Tonight’s debate “raised the stakes” on Saturday’s straw poll, as candidates sought to differentiate themselves to voters who are much more undecided than in past caucus cycles, Iowa Republican Party Chairman Matt Strawn said.

“A lot of Iowans are going to come to the straw poll and actually listen to the speeches before deciding who to vote for,” Strawn said. “I think some of the candidates were speaking directly to those Iowa straw poll voters tonight.”

Iowa’s Republican caucus voters have been slower to commit to a candidate this year because of the “fluidity” of the campaigns and roster of candidates so far, but also because they want to be dead-certain they’re putting the best challenger forward.

“The Iowa Republican knows what four more years of Barack Obama means for our Republican principles,” Strawn said. “We want to make sure we get the decision right.”